7x why you should eat an egg a little more often
Unfortunately, it is still a neglected topic: proteins. Except in the sports world where you are bombarded with protein shakes and smart bars. Instagram is full of plates of scrambled eggs, prepped containers of chicken breast, and protein fluffs. But at the lunch table, there is still not really room made for the extra proteins. We stick to our familiar sandwich or that rice cake piled with goodies, while it is such an incredibly important part of a healthy body. Numerous studies have shown that a protein-rich diet has great benefits for shedding those necessary pounds and for a healthy metabolism. Here are eight reasons why you should also take an omelet to work more often.
1. It helps reduce your appetite
Replace part of your plate with proteins and you will see that you will feel full faster with less food. Let's take lunch as an example. Go for a well-filled omelet with vegetables and a piece of avocado on the side. This way, you replace the carbohydrates (your familiar sandwich, for example) with proteins. This reduces the hunger hormone ghrelin and stimulates the satiety hormone peptide YY.
2. It is good for your bones
Drinking milk for strong bones; we have all been raised with this rule. But our body needs more. The right protein-rich food combined with enough calcium is important for building healthy bones.
3. It increases your muscle mass
Proteins are the building blocks of muscles. Therefore, proteins also help with the proper construction and recovery of the body, and you build muscle mass with it. Having high protein levels also ensures that you do not experience muscle breakdown. It also speeds up your metabolism.
4. You are less likely to experience a snack attack
How often do we say: I am hungry. But are we hungry or do we just crave something? Does your body need energy or does your mind want a reward? That craving for unhealthy (or less healthy) food can sometimes be hard to control. The best way to kill those snack attacks is to ensure that those cravings do not arise due to too low protein intake. A study showed that overweight people who increased their protein intake by 25% had a reduction in cravings for junk food.
5. It boosts your metabolism
By occasionally throwing a scoop of cottage cheese on your plate or replacing your sandwich with a bowl of yogurt, your metabolism is stimulated, which leads to more calorie burning.
6. It lowers blood pressure
Research shows that a high protein intake lowers blood pressure. Additionally, cholesterol levels would also decrease. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are significant causes of heart attacks, strokes, and chronic kidney diseases.
7. It helps with weight loss
As I mentioned, proteins lead to a faster metabolism and a higher calorie burn. So it's not surprising that the pounds will drop off if you eat an egg a bit more often. In a study with overweight women, where protein intake was increased to 30% of calories, they lost as much as five kilos in twelve weeks, without other restrictions.
Credits: Brooke Lark
